Why dark art? Why do you choose this style? In the first place do you consider your art to be 'dark'?

I don't really "choose" my style. My style is me and even though my subject matter has changed throughout the years, my style itself is still very distinct throughout all of my works. I wouldn't consider all of my artwork dark. My artwork is an exaggerration of the truth. I exaggerate proportions, features, etc, usually seen in a negative or dark way. I don't necessarily see everything I do as dark, but just as an exaggeration of real life and things I see every day.

Cristina Beller (asunder)  brokenart  asunder.deviantart.com

With this style of yours... who or what influences you most? One of my major influences is music. Music is my fuel for creating, and I'm always looking for something new to listen to that sparks my interest and gets my "creative juices" flowing. I'm becoming more inspired by life itself. I work in a nursing home and although the people are extremely unique and great, it's still very hard seeing what they go through just to do the most simple of tasks, seeing them in pain, seeing them slowly slip away from themselves, etc. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. It's also very hard watching my friends die.

These people definately influence my work TREMENDOUSLY. Not so much the work you see featured here, (that's older work) but my more recent works.

I take all the things one would see as negative (wrinkles, bags, scars, sores, veins, bones, etc), and distort and exaggerated them into my own characters. I myself see this every day I work, and am not affected by it in the way that most are, therefore I definately do not see a lot of it as negative.

Sometimes I do try to express the negative sides of their lives (their fragility, loneliness, confusion, demensia, etc). I am not a depressed person. In fact, I'm quite the happy and hyper one. I guess "happy" ideas just don't interest me much?

View LARGER versions of this artworks in these links: » Broken Art » Deviantart Gallery

Hand in hand with influence is inspiration, so what is it that you look to for inspiration?

If I'm stuck or in a block and I'm DESPERATELY trying to search for inspiration, I look to music and lyrics. Nine Inch Nails would have to be the most inspirational music for me. I'm always trying to find new bands and new genres of music to fuel my inspiration.

I don't just stick to one area of music, but I love all different kinds to give my inspiration and sources variety. There will be days I'm in the mood for serious music to create a serious piece. If I'm in a quirky mood, I'll turn up the cheesy upbeat gothy synthy stuff :)

How much of your art represents you as a person. What aspects to be precise?

Some people take my artwork the wrong way and associate it with me in the wrong way. Well, A lot of people I should say. Not everyone understands my choice of subject matter, and not everyone relates it to me in the proper way.

They see something they feel is dark, gothic, sick, depressing, etc. and feel that I am a depressed individual with serious mental issues. Wrong. I absolutely LOVE contrast and line. The more ways I can use line, the better. It just so happens that wrinkles and saggy flesh require a lot of detail and line :)

I am also in love with exaggerating the human figure. So, in the way that I see and understand my own art, it represents me A LOT as a person. But, in the way that most people see my art, I would be represented the wrong way... soo..

If you were one of your artworks, which one would you be and why?

This one! Hmmmm... I wonder why...

What do you think is your best artwork so far? Do share with us some of your indepth thoughts regarding that piece.

I think it is absolutely impossible for me to pick one. I love all of my babies!

Ah... nine inch nails... can you describe the band's song in an 'asunder-point-of-view'?

Nine Inch Nails is an extremely inspirational and unique band. Their music gives a huge range of different emotions. If I wanted to create a piece with rage, insanity, depression/suicidal stuffs, hopelessness, etc, I would definately have to listen to the downward spiral. Broken is also good for insanity and rage. If I wanted to make something more serious, beautiful, soft, etc, I would definately listen to The Fragile or Still. A few of my nin favorites would have to be "The Day The World Went Away", "Piggy", "The Great Below", "Terrible Lie", and a few remixes off Things Falling Apart.

Can you give us an overview of the tools you use... including the softwares?

The only software program I use is Adobe Photoshop 7. The main tools I use are the airbrushing tools, smudge tool, erase, lots and lots of layers, and lots and lots of my own brushes. My grunge brushes are a big necessity.

If I want to freehand something in photoshop and use a lot of line like I would a pen, I use a 1 pixel brush set on VERY low flow with the opacity kept on 100. Sometimes I like to scan in an already completed and shaded drawing and smudge the lines to give it a smooth and airbrushed look. I can never get enough of the layers and layer styles. Overlay would have to be my favorite :)

I of course own a Wacom tablet! (9x12).

Technique-wise (art related), what do you think eludes you? What technique/style are you striving to perfect at the moment?

I would love to try out a realistic-looking painting technique in photoshop. I would also like to try incorporating complex and detailed textures into them, such as the work by melora. I am always trying out new techniques and styles and this has helped evolve my own style and ideas.

Do you work for yourself or for an audience?

I definately work for myself! I create for myself and would never give that up. I love doing what I love to do and having other people love it at the same time. (Too many loves)

What do you think of these online art-related communities?

I haven't been to many outside of deviantart and breed. I wouldn't even consider myself a member of breed anymore. I'm sure the art groiups have potential, but I myself didn't see the point of me being in one.

I felt like all I was doing was setting aside an image, waiting and waiting for a release date so I could submit it to deviantart. That feeling I have towards the group makes it pretty pointless for me to be in I'd say. As for deviant art, I LOVE it. It is my home away from home. It is where I can upload my art and see all the people that enjoy it as much as I do, and to find artists with similar interests and unique and exciting styles.

Outside of art and the internet, I'm not much. Whenever I have to describe myself or my hobbies, all I can ever come up with is art. On the rare occasion I'll pop out a poem, but that isn't too often. I think I am a horrible writer.

When I do write, I try as hard as I can to get past all the cliches and stereotypes I see in 90% of the poetry I read :/. Here is a poem I wrote that I do enjoy:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/5783400/.

Aside from that, I am also a fun, hyper, crazy, cher-singing, hair whipping, music-loving, connect-four-whore, messy gal.

How different are you in real life, cristina?

Different as in how different am in real life as to how I am on the internet? If that is the question, then I'm no different than what you see here. No false advertising :)

How old are you btw, Cristina?  Seven years from now... where do you see yourself?  What's your dream job?

I am 18 years old (Apr-23-86). I see myself graduated from the American Academy of Art in downtown chicago, and in an illustration career that I hopefully LOVE! I could see myself illustration children's books. Must corrupt their little minds at an early age! hehehe .. Like the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series. (by Stephen Gammel and Alvin Schwartz) :) those drawings were the creepiest most awesome things I had ever and have ever seen!

Oh Congrats on the latest breed release... how's life with breed?

I love breed im very glad they thought i was good enough to join their group.. breed rules!

If there is one thing or person in the world that you would give up graphics/art/design for, what would it be?

NOTHING AND NO ONE! That would be like giving up my purpose and my soul. Now why in the hell would I want to do that?

Final words for the viewers... (Anything goes)

Pristine Floral Corpse Droppings and Petroleum Belly Beef Crevices. The End.
http://asunder.deviantart.com

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